Liquid fabric enhancers comprising branched polyester molecules

Abstract

Liquid fabric enhancer compositions that include branched polyester compounds. Methods of making and using same.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A liquid fabric enhancer having a pH of from about 2 to about 5, said liquid fabric enhancer comprising, based on total liquid fabric enhancer weight, from about 1% to about 50%, of a branched polyester polymer
 having Formula 1 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           wherein:
 each A is independently a branched hydrocarbon chain comprising 4 to 100 carbon atoms; 
 Q is selected from an alkyl chain comprising 1 to 30 carbon atoms and a hydrogen atom; 
 T is a hydrogen atom or a —C(O)—R where in each R is an alkyl chain comprising 1 to 30 carbon atoms and n is an integer from 1 to about 100. 
 
         
       
     
     
       2. The liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 1  having a pH of from about 2 to about 5, said liquid fabric enhancer comprising, based on total liquid fabric enhancer weight, from about 1% to about 40% of said branched polyester polymer,
 wherein: 
 each A is independently a branched hydrocarbon chain comprising from 4 to 40 carbon atoms, 
 Q is selected from an alkyl chain comprising 1 to 30 carbon atoms and a hydrogen atom; 
 T is a hydrogen atom or a —C(0)—R wherein each R is an alkyl chain comprising from 7 to 21 carbon atoms, and 
 n is an integer from 4 to 40. 
 
     
     
       3. The liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 1 , wherein said branched polyester polymer having Formula 1 has a weight average molecular weight of from about 500 g/mol to about 100,000 g/mol. 
     
     
       4. The liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 1 , wherein each A of said branched polyester polymer is independently a branched hydrocarbon with the structure 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein each R 3  is a monovalent alkyl or substituted alkyl group and R 4  is an unsaturated or saturated divalent alkylene radical comprising from 1 to about 24 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       5. The liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 1 , wherein each A of said branched polyester polymer has the structure: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
       6. The liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 1 , wherein said branched polyester polymer has an iodine value from about 0 to about 90. 
     
     
       7. A liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 1 , said liquid fabric enhancer comprising, based on total liquid fabric enhancer weight, from about 1% to 50% of a fabric softener active selected from the group consisting of a quaternary ammonium compound, an amine, a fatty ester, a sucrose ester, a silicone, a dispersible polyolefin, a polysaccharide, a fatty acid, a softening oil, a polymer latex, a softening clay and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       8. A liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 1 , said liquid fabric enhancer comprising, based on total liquid fabric enhancer weight, material selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following:
 a) from about 0.001% to about 15% of an anionic surfactant scavenger; 
 b) from about 0.01% to about 10%, of a delivery enhancing agent; 
 c) from about 0.005% to about 30% of a perfume; 
 d) from about 0.005% to about 30% of a perfume delivery system; 
 e) from about 0.0001% to about 10% of a hueing dye; 
 f) from about 0.0001% to about 10% of a dye transfer inhibiting agent; 
 g) from about 0.01% to about 20% of a structurant; 
 h) from about 0.05% to about 20% of a fabric care benefit agent; 
 i) from about 0.05% to about 10% a surfactant; 
 j) a carrier; and 
 k) mixtures thereof. 
 
     
     
       9. A liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 8  wherein:
 a) said anionic surfactant scavenger comprises a water soluble cationic and/or zwitterionic scavenger compound; 
 b) said delivery enhancing agent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a cationic polymer having a charge density from about 0.05 milliequivalent/g to about 23 milliequivalent per gram of polymer, an amphoteric polymer having a charge density from about 0.05 milliequivalent/g to about 23 milliequivalent per gram of polymer, a protein having a charge density from about 0.05 milliequivalent/g to about 23 milliequivalent per gram of protein and mixtures thereof; 
 c) said perfume delivery system is selected from the group consisting of Polymer Assisted Delivery system, Molecule-Assisted Delivery system, Cyclodextrin system, Starch Encapsulated Accord system, Zeolite & Inorganic Carrier system, and mixtures thereof; 
 d) said hueing dye comprising a moiety selected the group consisting of acridine, anthraquinone, azine, azo, benzodifurane and benzodifuranone, carotenoid, coumarin, cyanine, diazahemicyanine, diphenylmethane, formazan, hemicyanine, indigoid, methane, naphthalimide, naphthoquinone, nitro and nitroso, oxazine, phthalocyanine, pyrazole, stilbene, styryl, triarylmethane, triphenylmethane, xanthene and mixtures thereof; 
 e) said dye transfer inhibiting agent is selected from the group consisting polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles or mixtures thereof; 
 f) said structurant is selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated castor oil, gellan gum, starches, derivatized starches, carrageenan, guar gum, pectin, xanthan gum, modified celluloses, microcrystalline celluloses modified proteins, hydrogenated polyalkylenes, non-hydrogenated polyalkenes, inorganic salts, clay, homo- and co-polymers comprising cationic monomers selected from the group consisting of N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methyl methacrylate, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylamide, N,N-dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylamide , quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methyl methacrylate, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylamide, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylamide, and mixtures thereof; 
 g) said fabric care benefit agent is selected from the group consisting of polyglycerol esters, oily sugar derivatives, wax emulsions, silicones, polyisobutylene, polyolefins and mixtures thereof; 
 h) said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of, nonionic surfactants, ampholytic surfactants, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof; 
 i) said carrier is selected from the group consisting of water, 1,2-propanediol, hexylene glycol, ethanol, isopropanol, glycerol, C 1 -C 4  alkanolamines, salts, sugars, polyalkylene oxides; polyethylene glycols; polypropylene oxide, and mixtures thereof. 
 
     
     
       10. A liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 8  wherein:
 a) said anionic surfactant scavenger is selected from the group consisting of monoalkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, amine precursors of monoalkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, dialkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, and amine precursors of dialkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, polyquaternary ammonium compounds, amine precursors of polyquaternary ammonium compounds, and mixtures thereof; 
 b) said delivery enhancing agent is selected from the group consisting of cationic polysaccaharides, polyethyleneimine and its derivatives, polyamidoamines and homopolymers, copolymers and terpolymers made from one or more cationic monomers selected from the group consisting of N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methyl methacrylate, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylamide, N,N-dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylamide, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, quaternized N,N- dialkylaminoalkyl methyl methacrylate, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylamide, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylamide, vinylamine and its derivatives, allylamine and its derivatives, vinyl imidazole, quaternized vinyl imidazole and diallyl dialkyl ammonium chloride and combinations thereof, and optionally a second monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, N,N-dialkyl acrylamide, methacrylamide, N,N-dialkylmethacrylamide, C 1 -C 12  alkyl acrylate, C 1 -C 12  hydroxyalkyl acrylate, polyalkylene glyol acrylate, C 1 -C 12  alkyl methacrylate, C 1 -C 12  hydroxyalkyl methacrylate, polyalkylene glycol methacrylate, vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohol, vinyl formamide, vinyl acetamide, vinyl alkyl ether, vinyl pyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl imidazole and derivatives, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, vinyl sulfonic acid, styrene sulfonic acid, acrylamidopropylmethane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and their salts, and combinations thereof; 
 c) said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfate, alkyl ethoxysulfate, linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, alpha olefin sulfonate, ethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated alkyl phenols, fatty acids, soaps, and mixtures thereof; 
 d) said fabric care benefit agent is selected from the group consisting of polydimethylsiloxane, silicone polyethers, cationic silicone, aminosilicone, and mixtures thereof. 
 
     
     
       11. A liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a) a quaternary ammonium ester softening active of the following formula:
   {R2(4- m )-N+-[X—Y—R1] m }A—
 
 
 wherein: 
 m is 1, 2 or 3 with proviso that the value of each m is identical; 
 each R1 is independently hydrocarbyl, or branched hydrocarbyl group; 
 each R2 is independently a C1-C3 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group; 
 each X is independently —(CH2)n-, —CH2-CH(CH3)- or —CH—(CH3)-CH2—and 
 each n is independently 1, 2, 3 or 4; 
 each Y is independently —O—(O)C— or —C(O)—O—; 
 A- is independently selected from the group consisting of chloride, methyl sulfate, and ethyl sulfate; 
 with the proviso that when Y is —O—(O)C—, the sum of carbons in each R1 is from 13 to 21; 
 b) a carrier, 
 c) optionally, an anionic surfactant scavenger selected from the group consisting of a monoalkyl quaternary ammonium compounds and amine precursors thereof, dialkyl quaternary ammonium compounds and amine precursors thereof, polyquaternary ammonium compounds and amine precursors thereof, polymeric amines, and mixtures thereof; 
 d) optionally, a delivery enhancing agent selected from the group consisting of a cationic polymer having a charge density from about 0.05 milliequivalent/g to about 23 milliequivalent per gram of polymer, an amphoteric polymer having a charge density from about 0.05 milliequivalent/g to about 23 milliequivalent per gram of polymer, a protein having a charge density from about 0.05 milliequivalent/g to about 23 milliequivalent per gram of protein and mixtures thereof; 
 e) optionally, a dye transfer inhibiting agent selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles or mixtures thereof; 
 f) optionally, a structurant selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated castor oil, gellan gum, starches, derivatized starches, carrageenan, guar gum, pectin, xanthan gum, modified celluloses, microcyrstalline celluloses, modified proteins, hydrogenated polyalkylenes, non-hydrogenated polyalkenes, inorganic salts selected from the group consisting of magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium formate, magnesium formate, aluminum chloride, potassium permanganate and mixtures thereof, clay, homo- and co-polymers comprising cationic monomers selected from the group consisting of N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methyl methacrylate, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylamide, N,N-dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylamide, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methyl methacrylate, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylamide, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylamide, and mixtures thereof; and 
 g) optionally, a fabric care benefit agent selected from the group consisting of polyglycerol esters, oily sugar derivatives, wax emulsions, silicones, polyisobutylene, polyolefins and mixtures thereof; and 
 h) optionally a perfume; and 
 i) optionally a perfume delivery system; 
 said liquid fabric enhancer having a pH of from about 2 to about 5. 
 
     
     
       12. A liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, ampholytic surfactants, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof; 
 b) a carrier; 
 c) optionally, a builder selected from the group consisting of phosphate salts, water-soluble, nonphosphorus organic builders, alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium polyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates, polyhydroxy sulfonates, and mixtures thereof; 
 d) optionally, a soil dispersing polymer selected from the group consisting of a homopolymer copolymer or terpolymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer anionic monomer, alkoxylated polyamines and mixtures thereof; 
 e) optionally, a delivery enhancing agent selected from the group consisting of a cationic polymer having a charge density from about 0.05 milliequivalent/g to about 23 milliequivalent per gram of polymer, an amphoteric polymer having a charge density from about 0.05 milliequivalent/g to about 23 milliequivalent per gram of polymer, a protein having a charge density from about 0.05 milliequivalent/g to about 23 milliequivalent per gram of protein and mixtures thereof; 
 f) optionally, a brightener selected from the group consisting of derivatives of stilbene or 4,4′ -diaminostilbene, biphenyl, five-membered heterocycles, pyrazolines, oxazoles, imidiazoles, six-membered heterocycles, and mixtures thereof; 
 g) optionally, a hueing dye comprising a moiety selected the group consisting of acridine, anthraquinone azine, azo, benzodifurane and benzodifuranone, carotenoid, coumarin, cyanine, diazahemicyanine, diphenylmethane, formazan, hemicyanine, indigoid, methane, naphthalimide, naphthoquinone, nitro and nitroso, oxazine, phthalocyanine, pyrazole, stilbene, styryl, triarylmethane, triphenylmethane, xanthene and mixtures thereof; 
 h) optionally, a dye transfer inhibiting agent selected from the group consisting polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles or mixtures thereof; 
 i) optionally, a structurant selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated castor oil, gellan gum, starches, derivatized starches, carrageenan, guar gum, pectin, xanthan gum, modified celluloses, microcyrstalline celluloses, modified proteins, hydrogenated polyalkylenes, non-hydrogenated polyalkenes, inorganic salts, clay, homo- and co-polymers comprising cationic monomers selected from the group consisting of N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methyl methacrylate N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylamide, N,N-dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylamide , quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methyl methacrylate, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl acrylamide, quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylamide, and mixtures thereof,; 
 j) optionally, a fabric care benefit agent selected from the group consisting of polyglycerol esters, oily sugar derivatives, wax emulsions, silicones, polyisobutylene, polyolefins and mixtures thereof; and 
 k) optionally a perfume; 
 l) optionally a perfume delivery system; 
 said liquid fabric enhancer having a pH of from about 4 to about 5. 
 
     
     
       13. A liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a) a fabric softening agent, a perfume, and a delivery enhancing agent; or 
 b) a fabric softening agent, a perfume and a perfume delivery system; or 
 c) a hueing dye and a surfactant; or 
 d) a fabric softening agent, a fabric care benefit agent and a delivery enhancing agent; or 
 e) a fabric care benefit agent, anionic surfactant scavenger and a delivery enhancing agent; or 
 f) a perfume delivery system. 
 
     
     
       14. A fabric treated with a liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       15. A method of treating and/or cleaning a fabric, said method comprising
 a) optionally washing and/or rinsing said fabric; 
 b)acting said fabric with a liquid fabric enhancer according to  claim 1 ; 
 c) optionally washing and/or rinsing said fabric; and 
 d) optionally passively or actively drying said fabric.